Tag: weight loss management

Some do, some don’t—and it’s important to understand the difference. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three drugs to aid long-term weight loss. They are: orlistat (Xenical and Alli), lorcaserin (Belviq) and phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia).

There also are many over-the-counter appetite suppressants and other drugs and supplements that promise rapid weight loss, but they have not proven effective for lasting weight loss, and some can cause potentially dangerous side effects.

The cornerstone of successful weight loss involves lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthful, high-fiber, lower-calorie diet, being physically active and modifying negative behaviors. Numerous studies prove the health dangers of excess pounds, so it’s important to try to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

If you are among the nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults age 20 and older who are overweight or obese, the prescription weight-loss medications may help you get to a healthier weight. However, they won’t help everyone. Weight loss is a serious, long-term endeavor. Always discuss your options with your health care provider or consult a registered dietitian.

No weight-loss medications should be used if you’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Some medications may be restricted if you are less than 18 years old or have certain medical conditions. Like most medications, weight-loss medications have potential side effects. None of the long-term weight-loss drugs is considered high risk for developing a drug dependence, but you should take care if you have a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Here’s a primer on weight-loss medications:

Orlistat works by preventing your body from absorbing about one-third of the fat you eat. It can interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, so you should take a multivitamin while taking orlistat. It can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, gas and other gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms are usually mild and temporary but may be worse if you eat high-fat foods. In rare cases, orlistat may cause liver damage, so stop taking the drug and contact your health care professional if you notice any symptoms of liver problems, such as dark urine or yellowish eyes or skin. Xenical is the prescription version of orlistat, approved for adults and children 12 and older. Alli is the lower-dose over-the-counter orlistat. It is not approved for children. Do not take orlistat while taking cyclosporine.

Lorcaserin affects the chemicals in your brain that help decrease your appetite and make you feel full, so you eat less. It does not work for all people, so if you do not lose 5 percent of your weight within 12 weeks of starting the drug, the medication may not work for you, and you should talk with your health care professional about other options. Side effects of lorcaserin may include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, cough and constipation. If you are also taking an SSRI antidepressant or MAOI, ask your health care professional about the risk of serotonin syndrome.

Phentermine-topiramate combines two FDA-approved drugs. The phentermine suppresses appetite, but used alone, it is only approved for two weeks. By combining a lower dosage of phentermine with extended-release topiramate, the drug has been shown to be safe for up to two years. The medication comes in three doses: starting dose, recommended dose and higher dose. Similar to lorcaserin, it is not effective for everyone, so if you have not lost at least 5 percent of your body weight after 12 weeks on the higher dose of phentermine-topiramate, talk to your health care professional about other options. Common side effects may include tingling hands and feet, dizziness, changes in taste, trouble sleeping, constipation and dry mouth. Rare side effects may include allergic reactions, memory or mood problems, suicidal thoughts, vision problems and kidney stones. It is not recommended if you have an overactive thyroid gland, glaucoma or have recently taken an MAOI antidepressant (though it was safely tested with other antidepressants).

There also are several over-the-counter FDA-approved appetite suppressants that affect the brain chemicals that regulate your appetite. They include:

phentermine (Adipex-P, Oby-Cap, Suprenza, T-Diet, Zantryl)

benzphetamine (Didrex)

diethylpropion (Tenuate, Tenuate Dospan)

phendimetrazine (Adipost, Bontril PDM, Bontril Slow Release, Melfiat)

These medications have the potential for abuse and are only FDA-approved for short-term use of up to 12 weeks, though some health care professionals may prescribe them for longer “off-label” use. Side effects can include dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, headache, nervousness, restlessness, upset stomach and diarrhea or constipation. Severe side effects may include chest pain, fainting, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, confusion and swelling in your ankles or feet. You should not take appetite suppressants if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, overactive thyroid gland or glaucoma.

These appetite suppressants, along with other over-the-counter remedies like diuretics and supplements, have not been found to be effective long term and some have been linked to serious side effects.

Some issues to think about before considering a weight loss medication:

Your degree of overweight: weight loss medications are usually prescribed for people with a body mass index (BMI) over 27 who have additional complications, such as diabetes; or for those with BMIs over 30 without complications. BMI is a measure of weight status: people with BMIs from 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight; those with BMIs of 30 and above are considered obese.

Your degree of success with other weight loss programs or methods.

Your ability to comply with taking the medications and making long-term lifestyle changes.

For more information on the health topics mentioned in this article visit

The Caffeine in Coffee is known as a stimulator that increases alertness and improves your ability to concentrate. Hence the reason most of us drink it. Coffee drinkers must have their coffee every day! There are claims that caffeine has additional health benefits, such as the ability to decrease risk of disease, improve athletic performance and boost memory.

An analysis which was completed by scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and revealed that people who drank two cups of coffee a day were 14 percent less likely to suffer from a stroke. The analysis was combined statistics from eight studies conducted between 1960 and 2011 that had researched the correlation between coffee consumption and human health. The analysis included the results of surveys from some 500,000 individuals.

There are a lot of varying views and of course scientific opinion is sometimes strongly divided on the accreditation of coffee as having potential health benefits. Whether it is clear or not there are strong indications from the experiences of individuals and some nutritionists that consuming coffee may help in lowering the incidence of type 2 diabetes and heart disease and may provide other health benefits.

Let’s take a look at some research so far that indicate there may be some truth in the health potential of coffee:

Help in reducing the risk of stroke

The Karolinska Institute researchers found that individuals who drank two and three cups of coffee a day appeared to be less likely to suffer from a blood clot in the brain by 14 and 17 percent, respectively. According to the published findings the antioxidants found in coffee may help shield the brain’s blood vessels from so-called “bad” cholesterol.

Help in Lowering the risk of heart disease

Although Caffeine intake may cause an increase in blood pressure a Harvard Nurses’ Health Study published that they did not find habitual caffeine intake as a reason for increases in the risk of cardiovascular disease. Further the Journal of Epidemiology and Human Health noted that drinking two cups daily reduced the risk of dying from heart disease by 23 percent. This was according to a Japanese study of 81,000 men and women .

Lowering the incidence of type 2 diabetes

One 2004 study, where more than 125,000 participants were observed, the researchers theorized that it is the antioxidants in coffee (specifically ones like chlorogenic acid and magnesium) that helped improve insulin sensitivity.

Helping with memory, alertness, and reasoning

For all the coffee drinkers, we all know what happens when we have that first cup or two of coffee to wake us up. Women 65 and older may find it very interesting to know that a 2007 French study appear to reveal that the caffeine in coffee helped slow “cognitive decline.

About gallstone formation and gallbladder disease

If you are concerned about gallstone a study released in 2009 found that men who drank two to three cups of coffee daily were 40 percent less likely to develop gallstones compared to non-drinkers. According to Authorities moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee helps with stimulating contractions in the gallbladder and lowering the cholesterol in the bile that can cause the stones to form.

Helping to protect against chronic liver disease

Some research seems to suggest that if you are at risk of developing liver disease because of heavy alcohol consumption you may benefit from drinking a couple of cups of coffee daily. Indications are that Coffee may lower the risk of the development of elevated liver enzymes, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.

All the above is based on moderation. We all know that we survive on more than one cup daily.

Organo Gold coffee’s key ingredient is Ganoderma— a form of mushroom that grows on wood that has been used in traditional Asian medicines for over 4000 years. You can research the benefits of Ganoderma at the US National Library – pubmed.gov. Health News Volume 20 Number 4 also provides you with the personal experiences of people who have used Ganoderma.

Ganoderma is alkaline and when added to the Coffee it provides the benefits of coffee and Ganoderma without the caffeine effects. See how much caffeine you are taking in with you favourite drink below:

Item

Amount

Caffeine Content (mg)

Coffee, brewed

8 fl. oz

95-200

Espresso

1 shot (1 fl. oz)

58-75

Starbucks Latte

Grande

150

Coca-Cola, regular

12 fl. oz

35

Mountain Dew, regular or diet

12 fl. oz

54

Black Tea

8 fl. oz

40-120

Black Tea, decaffeinated

8 fl. oz

2-10

Lipton Brisk Lemon Iced Tea

12 fl. oz

7

Nestea Iced Tea

12 fl. oz

26

Monster Energy Drink

16 fl. oz

160

Red Bull

8.3 fl. oz

76

Excedrin, Extra Strength

2 tablets

130

NoDoz, Max Strength

1 tablet

200

Hershey’s Milk Choc Bar

1.55 oz

9

Hershey’s Special Dark Choc Bar

1.45 oz

31

ADAPTED FROM MAYO CLINIC: CAFFEINE CONTENT FOR COFFEE, TEA, SODA AND MORE

People I know who have used the coffee have stated that they have experienced benefits such as improvement in balancing blood sugar, blood pressure, migraine headaches etc. I have personally tried all their products. I had stopped drinking coffee because of the side effects – acid reflux, restlessness and insomnia. Now I drink Organo Gold Coffee during the day and I feel great, sleep well and I do not have acid reflux. I have also not gotten the flu. Of course our bodies are all different. I challenge you to try a box and let me know your experiences.

These are my views based on my personal experiences, the experiences of people I know and on online research. I would love to hear your views.